O's have taken more high school players early in recent drafts

It has not exactly been an organizational mandate or philosophy, but the Orioles have selected more high school players than college players in the first five rounds of the draft over the last five years.

High school kids can have more upside and can get to the majors at a younger age, sometimes than their college counterparts, who may be 21 or older in some cases when drafted.

According to this report from Baseball America, the Orioles selected a high school player with 59.3 percent of their top five round picks in drafts from 2013-2017. They used 16 of 27 picks on high school players - a list that includes Chance Sisco, Hunter Harvey, Travis Seabrooke, Brian Gonzalez, Ryan Mountcastle, Ryan McKenna, Brenan Hanifee, DL Hall, Adam Hall and Lamar Sparks.

"I think it just kind of worked out that way," Orioles scouting director Gary Rajsich said of taking more high school players in those early rounds. "I do have a preference for high school players. I think there is more upside to them. You know with some of the abuse of college pitchers' (arms) you read about today, I mean, there is risk also in high school pitchers yes. But, given what it is, I like to reach for upside in my drafts. In general, high school kids have more upside."

But Rajsich insisted the team has not been looking to take more players in the high school ranks.

The 2018 First-Year Player Draft will be held this coming Monday through Wednesday. The Orioles have the No. 11 pick in round one and in the top 100 will also add selections at No. 37 and No. 87.

The Orioles, of course, always look at the talent in and around the Baltimore area and one player they are quite familiar with is Towson University shortstop Richie Palacios, who is expected to go in the first five rounds. Fangraphs lists him No. 66 on their draft board list while he is ranked No. 134 by MLBPipeline.com and No. 142 by Baseball America.

This season for the Tigers he hit .301/.457/.515 and drew 52 walks to just 16 strikeouts. Scouts seem to like that batting eye and ability to put the ball in play along with his hit tool and his speed. He was the only player in Division I this year with 50 walks, 50 runs and 25 steals. He's 5-foot-11 and weighs 180 and bats left and throws right.

His father, Richard Sr., played in the Detroit farm system, reaching Triple-A. His uncle Rey played three years with the Kansas City Royals and his older brother Josh played at Auburn. He was drafted in the fourth round by Toronto in 2016 and is currenty playing for Single-A Dunedin in the Florida State League.

The latest mock draft by Baseball America projected the Orioles taking prep right-hander Cole Winn from Orange, California. The latest from MLBPipeline.com had the Orioles selecting prep lefty Ryan Weathers from Lorett, Tenn. His father David pitched in the majors for 19 seasons from 1991 through 2009 with nine different teams.

About last night: Another night and another night with a lack of runs for the Orioles. They lost 4-1 to the New York Yankees and were outhit 12-5. Sonny Gray bested Andrew Cashner as the Orioles lost the opener of a rain-shortened three-game series.

In the four games on this homestand - all losses - the Orioles have scored just three runs on 25 hits. They are 1-for-16 in those games with runners in scoring position. This comes at a time when the O's starting pitchers have recorded four straight quality starts for the first time all year. But the lack of runs has led to a lack of wins.

During a six-game losing streak the Orioles have scored seven runs. They have scored 24 the last 12 games and 37 in 16 games. The O's batters have scored three runs or less in seven straight and 12 of the last 13 games.